Black Muslim firefighter was harassed for 12 years by co-workers for complaining about FDNY racism: suit

Navy veteran and firefighter Raheem Hassan endured 12 years of harassment from co-workers after speaking out about racism within the FDNY. (LinkedIn)

A black Muslim firefighter who endured racial taunts of "n----r" and pork hidden in his food by fellow smoke-eaters claims he was punished for speaking out about department racism — a problem still rampant in the FDNY, according to a civil rights lawsuit filed in Brooklyn Federal Court on Tuesday.

Navy veteran and firefighter Raheem Hassan faced about 12 years of harassment from his colleagues at Engine 309/Ladder 159 in Flatlands, he claims in court papers.

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He says he was asked to apologize for 9-11 and accused of being inherently lazy because of his race.

Hassan says he skipped group meals at the firehouse because his co-workers tried to slip pork or pork byproducts into his food so he would violate Muslim dietary restrictions.

"When Mr. Hassan complained of the unlawful conduct, he was ridiculed, retaliated against, and supervisors refused to address the hostile work environment that pervaded his firehouse and others in the City of New York," his lawyer, Aymen Aboushi, said in the suit.

"Black firefighters are lazy and no one wants to work with them," Hassan was told. When two or more black firefighters were standing together his coworkers would call it a "Vulcan meeting" a derogatory reference to the black firefighter organization, The Vulcan Society, according to the suit. Hassan suffered bleached clothes and water thrown on him from the top of the firehouse, he says in court papers.

He says he was afraid to go to sleep because firefighters would often take photos of their genitals near the face of the slumbering colleagues.

Engine 309/Ladder 159 in Flatlands. (Google)

When Hassan brought his complaints to his supervisors, he says they filed phony charges against him in December, claiming he threatened to "kill the guys in the firehouse," the Daily News previously reported.

"It wasn't true, he never threatened to kill anyone in the firehouse," Aboushi said. "He was arrested for speaking out."

Hassan's suit goes farther than claiming the discrimination was a problem at his Brooklyn ladder company, he says the problem still pervades the department despite years integration efforts.

Hassan says he was afraid to go to sleep because firefighter would pull pranks on him. (Todd Maisel / New York Daily News)

"This is not a new issue and unfortunately it has not been address," Aboushi said. "They have to make it a point to change the culture in the firehouses. They've been put on notice repeatedly that racial discrim is a big issue in the firehouses."

After Hassan's harassment came to light through a Daily News article, bosses and firefighters were transferred out of the firehouse.

"The Department immediately and aggressively took action when complaints of inappropriate conduct were alleged to have occurred at the firehouse, and there is an ongoing investigation of those complaints," FDNY spokesman Frank Dwyer said.

Aboushi said their suit aims to do more than just punish a few firefighters.

"We're seeking a change in culture," he said. "We want people of color to be able to work for the FDNY without fear of discrimination."